Pocket current tester



Jan. 9, 1945. J. wlcH POCKET CURRENT TESTER` Filed June 12, 1941 z ZZar/zeg.

f. W M m Patented Jan. 9, 1945 y UNITED STATES POCKET CURRENT TESTER John Wich, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 12,

1941, Serial N0. -39"],725

8 Claims. (Cl. 175-183) l,

My invention relates to a tester for electrical current and the object thereof is to provide a."

convenient pocket tester with a neon or other gas bulb for indicating the presence or nonpresence of current in a line wire or conductor and to show whether the same is A. C. or D. C. current and the polarity thereof and also for R.. F. or radio frequency and to render the device safe to carry without injury to the person or danger to children as well as around loose, swinging r exposed electrical wiring or parts charged with current.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a pocket neon tester for electrical current or energy which is small and compact and simulates an ordinary fountain pen, pencil or combination of both and includes a writing implement in its structure for handy use and also includes an insulated flexible conductor or cable 20 the instrument constituting the pocket current which, when not in use, is entirely enclosed and protected as well as prevented from dangling' from the instrument which may be clipped in a pocket to the material of a garment just like an ordinary writing or marking instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tester which canbe readily carried in ones .pocket and has a, casing or barrel with arremovable cap which encloses two terminals, one of which is rigid with the casing and the other ofv which is carried by a flexible insulated wire or cable so that connection may be made to various electrically charged parts while still permitting proper exposure or best possible visibility of the neon or other light t0 permit the operator to determine the nature as Well as the presence or non-presence of electrical current, particularly low voltages or voltages of A. C. current from 65 to 125 volts and D. C. current from 90 to 125 volts or whether A. C., D. C. or R. F., for live wires, grounded wires, open circuits, shorts, polarity, to locate blown fuses, defective spark plugs, cables, distributor caps and similar ignition parts and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tester of the character stated employing a neon or other gas lamp in which the same is thoroughly protected against electrical contact with the user and the lamp from breakage as well as to provide a protective-resistance for the sensitive lamp or neon tube to prevent injury thereto or destruction thereof by surges of electrical current and in general, to simplify and improve devices of this character.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and be brought out more fully in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l, isan elevation of a pocket current tester constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal axial sectional view of the tester-with the clip cap applied to the end of the barrel having a pencil or other marking or writing instrument; Fig. 3 is a, sectional elevation of the instrument in the reverse position and showing the tester applied to a cable as in one use thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 with the pencil end omitted; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sections taken on the planes of the lines 5 5 and 6-6 of Figs. 2 and 4 with the outer barrel and cap in position in solid lines Referring to the drawing more particularly,

tester of the present invention includes an outer cylindrical barrel I0 which is of tubular form and like most of the casing parts of the instrul` y,

ment may be made of any suitable material but preferably of some insulation material or dielectric such as Bakelite, hard rubber or other molded plastic but is not confined thereto as other suitable material maybe employed. 'I'he instrument also includes a writing or marking instrument Il shown in the form of a pencil and preferably of a magazine feed or retracting lead type, but may be a pen, stencil or the like. This instrument constitutes a plug for closing one end oft] the barrel I0 such as by internal threads I2 which forms a removable connection for the externally threaded reduced end portion I3 of the plug formed by the writing instrument II. The threaded portion I2 constitutes the small bore end of the barrel or casing ID engaged by the 40 reduced threaded end I3 which is normally of metal and has an annular flange or collar I4 engaging the end of the pencil barrel which is normally of hard rubber, Bakelite or the like and forms a shoulder around the threaded portion I3 against which the end of the barrel I0 at the threaded portion I2 seats. The ring or ange Il is stationary but may be removed for obtaining access to the interior of the writing instrument which may be a pen, pencil or a marking instrument of any suitable character. As shown, the pencil has an eraser I5 fitted in the reduced bore of the threaded end I3 and the opposite end is tapered as shown at I6 with a rotatable portion I1. This portion is preferably vof metal and swiv- 55 elled to the remaining part of the pencil so that 'an externally threaded freely open end 2l.

'I'he casing or outer barrel I0 has an enlarged I longitudinal bore I8 from the reduced portion in which the threads I2 are provided, forming a stop or shoulder facing the enlarged bore and An inner casing or barrel 22 also of cylindrical form, is fitted within the bore I8 of the outer barrel I0 and has aclosure 23 at said end shown in the form of a plate, disk or plug which sets against the shoulder 28. This disk closes said end, but when the inner barrel is removed, renders it possible to obtain access to the chamber formed by the inner barrel which is counterbored at 24 for rigid and strong but has a small axial bore or passage 25 and forms an end wall or annular shoulder 21 with the bulb chamber 24 around the inner lend of theA bore or passage 26. Disposed within the chamber 24 is a neon or similar gas or fluorescent bulb 28 having filaments or electrodes 28 and shown in the form of terminals which are used in testing. The inner .tube or barrel 22 has an aperture, window opening or hole 8l adjacent the electrodes of the bulb 28 and confronting the same while the outerl barrel I0 or the inner barrel 22 may have a transparent window 32 of glass, mica or other plastic or ilreproof material whichV is non-combustible.

A hole 33 is provided in the outer barrel in align-` ment with the hole 3l and thus the window may be provided in either hole which forms a sight opening but as shown, the window is held in position in a seat in the innerv sight opening bya bezel or by the outer barrel though it may be frictionally held, mounted or otherwise anchored..

In order to protect the bulb and the electrodes or illaments from injury or breakage from shock, an asbestos or soft fibre insulation packing 'or cushion compound 34 may be provided in the cham-ber. around the bulb but left open at the.'

space 84a aligning with the sight opening either when packing the same or cutting or gouging out this portion so that the tube is readily visible with better light density and clear observation.

A disconnectible lead or conductor 35 leads from one of the electrodes shown as the filament or the electrode 29, and this may be arranged to plug removably in position as well as forming a terminal of the lamp or plug into a protective resistance 38 which is removably held in the adjacent end of the small bore or passage 25 and if desired, flanged against the end wall 21. Any suitable material may be used for this protective resistance such as is well known in the art, for instance, carbon or other suitable resistance to protect the neon tube, lamp or bulb electrodes or filaments 29 and 38 against shock from surging current. The disconnectible lead 35 is preferably an insulated conductor and a similar conductor in the form of an insulated conductor wire or cable 31 is provided to snugly flt in the passage 26 and connects to the opposite end of the protective resistance 38 shown in the form of a cylinder although the wire 31 need not be insulated since it remains in the passage 28 which n formed in the reduced portion 2s of nulmeting' v material. At its free end, the conductor 31 connects to one end of a rigid tapered or pointed terminal 38 of some suitable good conducting metal such as polished brass or the like and which is made relatively sharp to pierce an insulated cable or other conductor or to make good electrical connection with parts to be tested such as line wires, fuses, spark-plugs, cables, distributor caps or other ignition parts or the like. The pointed terminal 38 may have an annular flange or shoulder 35 to produce a stop against the end of the reduced portion 25 of the inner barrel when the adjacent end of the rigid terminal 38 is iitted in the end of the passage 28 in proper electrical connection with the conductor 31. The wire 31 is shown fitted in a socket ln the end of the terminal 38 and the parts may be suitably anchored or connected frictionally, by soldering or otherwise and this also applies to the electrical connection of the lead or conductor 35 with the neon electrode 28 and the protective resistance 36 as well as the connection of the latter with the conductor wire 51 which, as previously stated, may be left spaced and unlnsulated within the wall of izsle bore or passage 25 with a space around shank The other electrode 88 is Provided with a conductor or lead 48 forming the other terminal of the lamp bulb and connects to an insulated cable or conductor 4I of pliable or exible character which is iltted within a diagonal passage 42 in the solid portion or thickened wall of the inner barrel 22 between the chamber 24 and the reduced portion 25 forming a tubular shank. In other' v proper 22 where the reduced portion 25 is formed but slightly spaced therefrom to accommodate an insulated sleeve or ngerpiece 44 in which it isv frlctionally held, clamped or soldered. This insulated sleeve prevents transference of current Ato the fingers and body of the user and avoids injury or shock. The cable 4| connects to a pointed or tapered terminal orpin 45 preferably within the sleeve 44 and extends through a reduced bore portion 48 at the free end thereof forming an internal oppositely facing shoulder 41 in the bore of the sleeve or iingerpiece 44 and the pin or terminal has an enlarged portion 48 at its inner end detachably or otherwise connected to the conductor or cable 4I in one of the manners heretofore described in connection with the bulb, protective resistance or the pointed terminal 38. This enlarged portion 48 forms a shoulder 49 on the pointed terminal 45 which seats against the shoulder 46 and prevents displacement of the terminal but the important feature is to have the latter held within the flngerpiece so as to resist pressure in forcingthe pointed end of the terminal into an insulated cable such as C in Fig. 3 of the drawing so that the terminals 38 and 45 will pierce or engage the conductors C thereof or in making any other-suitable electrical connection with a part to be tested. For this purpose, the terminal 4I may have a shoulder corresponding to the shoulder or stop/3| of the terminal or may be otherwise suitably anchored, irictionally held, clamped r soldered in position. When the device is n t in use; the terminal 45 may be accommodated within a longitudinal socket 50 exposed outside of the re' duced extension or shan); 25 and oiIset radially in parallel relation to the bore 25 so as to open endwise toward the terminal 3l and through a shoulder 5I between the inner barrel 22 and the reduced portion or shank 25 by which it is formed. A cap 52 may be provided to fit over the exposed parts of the testing device or over the pencil or other marking or writing instrument ll and for this purpose, has a closed end and an open end as shown. 'I'he open end is preferably providedv with a tapered threaded bore portion 53 to engage the corresponding threads 2| externally on the outer barrel I at the end thereof adjacent the shoulder but merely to frictlonally engage over the cylindrical portion of the writing instrument I l which ls left unthreaded as shown although this securely holds the cap in place over the pencil when the tester is in use. WhenV the device is not in use, it may be held in a pocket o! a garment as by means of a spring clip 54 of the usual or any preferred type.

In the use of the tester, the cap is removed from the barrel I0 after the clip 5I is disengaged' from the pocket of a garment from which the same is removed, the same as a writing instrument which it resembles in appearance. The

Y cap is then applied over the writing instrument or pencil Il fas shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing from the normal position shown in Fig. 1. This exposes the cable or conductor 4| and after removing the pointed terminal or needle 45 from the socket 50, the rigid pointed terminal 38 is arranged to pierce a cable or connect with some other part to be tested in good electrical connection therewith. \The pointed terminal or needle 45 is similarly positioned and this without likelihood of shock or inury from current to the user by reason of the insulated/ sleeve or :linger piece Il. Also, by having the flexible cable 4l, the instrument may be turned in any desired position to insure proper visibility of the lighted tube, this being permited because the flexible cable 4l of the terminal 45 may be arranged in any desired position. lThe units are combined in one instrument and serves universally as a writing or marking implement in the form of a pen or pencil or well as a convenient pocket neon'tester for determining the condition of various wires or electrical parts and operating on very low amperage. It may be used to test A. C. current from 65 to 125 volts or more as desired and D. C current from 90 to 125 volts or more depending upon its construction and capacity, to

test live lines or wires, grounded lines, open cir-4 cuits, shorts, polarity and whether A. C., D. C. or R. F. (radio frequency) locate blown fuses, defective spark plugs, cables or distributor caps and is the only device to my knowledge produced to conveniently test distributor caps or similar ignition parts with facility. The device is a handy tester and is always at hand and may be carried in ones pocket without danger of injury from dangling wires or pointed terminals in addition to being more eiective and including a writing or marking instrument for convenient use, preferably a unit in the form of a conventional retracting or magazine feed lead type pencil complete with an eraser. AMerely by removing the cap 52, the testing device of the tester unit will be exposed and while the terminals are shown pointed or in the form of a tapered pin, stem or needl they may be in the form of prongs or oth suitable formation. 'By having one terminal olid or rigid, the device is readily grasped and is rendered easy to grip firmly and to make good contact as well as to face the instrument in a position for best visibility of the neon light. In addition, by having only one small window in the barrel for observation of the neon tubes and testing, a better light density and clearer observation or visibility is possible. When the ilexible pointed cable is not in use, it is anchored so that no pointed parts are exposed inasmuch as the -curved end 43 of the cable Il also extends around or adjacent the pointed end of the terminal 38 while the terminal 45 is held in the socket 50, being merely plugged in the side hole forming the same and permitting the cap to lbe screwed on or off without any difilculty. In other words, the cap encloses the complete tester unit and in this way, no wire is left dangling or exposed, thus not only giving full protection against damaging the tester unit but producing an appearance like an ordinary pen or pencil. By providing a connection from either terminal point to the sensitive neon tube through a. protective resistance, the tube is protested against injury or electrical surges especially'by reason of being highly insulated and avoiding all danger of shock. There is no danger from swinging wires or terminals too 'close to the connected parts or parts to be tested and better contact is insured on spark plugs, distributor caps, outlet' boxes, fuses andthe like.

As will be noted, there are two of the gas elec-- trodes and when illuminated, shows a Alive wire. The neon tube will operate on a very weak circuit, preferably one-tenth milliampere, both electrodes lighting up on A. C., one on D. C., and also showing the polarity of the current bylighting one or the other. For relatively strong current, the gas Will light substantially red, crimson or carmine or it may be orange in color for A. C. and D. C. and pink for radio frequency. Thus, the device is also safe for children and a protection against piercing the body or clothes as well as awkwardness of use compared to old devices employing prongs and exposed parts. The device is also especially adapted for use in connection with the spark plugs since no swinging wires are left exposed to blow out the bulbs by touching a motor casting or contacting with a ground.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, thisv is capable of variation and modification without departing froml the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of constructions set forth, but desire to avail myself .oi such variations and modicatilons as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pocket current tester including an outer barrel, a plug closing one end of the barrel, a cap adapted to be held on either end of the outer barrel, an inner barrel fitted within the outer barrel, one barrel having a reduced portion, a chamber in the inner barrel, a plural gas electrode bulb in the'chamber rand exposedthrough a window therein, a conductor rigid in the reduced portion and having a terminal point electrically connected therethrough to an electrode of the bulb with an interposed protective resistance confined in a barrel, a flexible conductor also connected to an electrode through the inner barrel and having a terminal conductor point, said barrel having a socket in which the last named pointed terminal is adapted to be mounted when not in use, said flexible conductor adapted to be bent on itself adjacent the pointed end of the other terminal to be covered by the cap.

2. A current tester including an open ended outer barrel, a closure at one end of the barrel, an inner barrel in the outer barrel, said barrels being of insulation, a chamber in one end of the inner barrel, a closure for the open end of said chamber and limiting the displacement of the inner barrel in the outer barrel, a gas filled bulb in the chamber and exposed through a sight window in the barrels, said inner barrel having a reduced end, a pointed conductor terminal at one end of the reduced portion and electrically connected to a bulb through a resistance, an elongated flexible conductor also connected to a bulb, a pointed conductor terminal at the free end of the last named conductor, means in the barrel alongside of the reduced portion to receive and anchor the last named terminal, and a cap mounted on the barrel for disposition at either end.

3. A tester for electric current including a barrel Vhaving a chamber therein at one end, a gas bulb in the chamber, said barrel having a reduced bore portion communicating with the chamber at one end and extending through the other end oi' the barrel, a conductor in the reduced bore portion having a rigid terminal abutting the latter end, a iiexible conductor having a terminal at its free end and of a length approximately twice the length of the rst conductor and bent on itself over the first terminal and means for anchoring the terminal of the ilexible conductor longitudinally in the barrel outwardly of the ilrst conductor and between the same and the periphery of the barrel, said conductors being connected to the bulb.

4. A tester for electric current, including a barrel having a chamber therein at one end and a reduced portion at the'other end, a gas bulb in the chamber and having a plurality of electrodes exposed through a window in the barrel, a conductor in the reduced portion connected to one of the electrodes at one end and having a terminal at the other end rigid with the barrel and a flexible conductor having a terminal at its free end and connected to the other electrode at its other end, said flexible conductor being oiset inwardly from the periphery of the barrel to extend through the latter for connection with said electrode and being of a length to be bent overl the first terminal and along the reduced portion in offset relation to the periphery of the barrel and the barrel having means to receive and anchor the terminal thereof at the opposite side of the barrel with relation to the point of entry of said conductor through the barrel for connection with an electrode. y

5. A pocket fluorescent or illuminable gas tester for electric currents comprising a barrel having a bulb chamber at one end and a reduced tubular portion at the other end, a bulb in the chamber having a pair of electrodes exposed through. a window in the barrel, a rigid pointed terminal snugly fitting in and projecting from the bore of the reduced portion at its free end and connected to one of the electrodes through the bore and a iiexible conductor much longer than the reduced portion and rigid terminal con nected to the other electrode through the barrel at one side of the bore and having a pointed terminal at its free end, said reduced portion forming a shoulder having a socket to receive and anchor the last terminal.

6. A pocket tester for electric current including a barrel having a bulb chamber at one end and having a reduced tubular portion at the other end forming an external shoulder facing the free end of the reduced portion, a bulb in the chamber having a pair of light filaments exposed through ay window in the barrel, a rigid conductor terminal held in the outer end of the bore and connected to one light filament through the bore with an interposed protective resistance tting the inner end of the bore and a flexible conductor extending through the barrel at the shoulder and connected to the other light filament at one end and extending outwardly along the reduced portion at one side, bent back over the rigid terminal and along the reduced portion at the other side thereof and having a terminal at its free end, there being a socket in the barrel at the shoulder to removably receive the last named terminal when not in use.

7. A current tester including a barrel having a plug at one end and a chamber in the barrel at said end closed bythe plug and provided with a sight opening, uorescent bulb in the chamber having two illuminable gas electrodes exposed at the opening and a pair of conductor terminals connected at the electrodes, one terminal being rigid at one end of the barrel and projecting therefrom and the other having an elongated flexible conductor bent back on itself over the ilrst terminal and means for removably anchoring the second terminal in the barrel radially between the first conductor and the outer surface of the barrel.

8. A tester for electrical current including a barrel having a lamp chamber open at one end and a reduced tubular portion at the other end forming an internal annular shoulder at said end, the inner portion of the bore of the reduced portion extending into the barrel and communicating with the chamber, the barrel forming an external shoulder around the reduced portion and having a socket extending into the barrel at the shoulder; a protective resistance in the inner end of the bore, a gas lamp in the chamber and having two electrodes, one of which is connected to the resistance, a conductor cable extending through the bore vand connected' to the other end of the resistance, a pointed metallic terminal at the outer end of the cable and rigidly mounted in and projecting from the free end of the bore, a flexible conductor cable extending longitudinally through the barrel from the vexternal shoulder to the interior of the chamber and connected to the other electrode, said latter conductor cable having a pointed metallic terminal at its free end and extending outwardly along the reduced portion, and bent back over the terminal therein along the reduced portion to removably iit into the socket and a cap removably mounted on the barrel over the reduced portion, cable and terminals. Y

JOHN WICH. 

